| Abstract |
Do radical right parties (RRPs) increase or normalize right-wing terrorist attacks? Conventional wisdom pronounces that a higher level of political representation is associated with a fewer political violence. However, given (extremist) ideological similarities, public discourse often links radical right parties with growing intergroup terrorism targeting out-group members. Drawing on new data of right-wing terrorism occurred in 31 OECD countries (1970 - 2017), I look at the causal inferences of radical right parties' political representation and right-wing terrorism at both cross-national and individual levels. The empirical results of causal mediation analysis report that while immigration has a direct effect to increase right-wing terrorist attacks, radical right parties work as a catalyst to normalize terrorism. Furthermore, the individual-level analysis in Germany reveals that RRP voters, especially economically marginalized ones, tend to justify violence. The findings would contribute to the discussions of whether party representation induces violence and what are consequences of RRP success.
|